Land Trust says support essential for parks' community ownership

Communities that take on the management of green spaces require long-term support, says open space charity the Land Trust, which believes it has the perfect ownership model.

The trust said community ownership was right "but don't abandon those
communities", following the release of a joint Government and CABE
report on asset transfer (HW, 26 November).

The charity, which manages spaces across the UK, said it had just taken
on the former Pleasley Colliery near Mansfield and was supporting a
friends group to manage the site.

"We provide the framework for them to safeguard the site," said Land
Trust chief executive Euan Hall. "Should volunteer numbers dwindle or
problems occur, we provide support as a fail-safe.

"The community needs to be supported, not just for few months or years
but long term. That way we are not just creating the regeneration areas
of the future."

But Hall asked: "Is it right to expect volunteers to do in their
precious spare time what full-time, highly trained people get paid
for?

"Open a space and suddenly you have to deal with public liability,
financial control, land management, fundraising, marketing, biodiversity
and planning."

The CABE report Community-Led Spaces did not go far enough in pointing
out that most public open space was a liability, not an asset, said
Hall. Some of it needed costly refurbishment or maintenance work and
would not generate revenue or be subsidised.

"There are complex and onerous tasks in land ownership, not to mention
liability. Financial implications could mean volunteers work not only
for free but actually pay for the privilege," Hall explained.

"This tends to mean the work is left to a few hardy souls, gradually
becoming more disenchanted. There has to be a constant source of
support, not just during set up.

"If the trust is provided with an endowment or other income, we can
offer the expertise, carry the risks and do the dirty work, allowing the
community to manage land in a way that suits its needs."

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